Although we were quite late in our arrival we still recorded decent numbers of Stonechat (5 males & 3 females) and Dartford Warbler (8 seen with a further 3 birds heard). The population density is clearly quite high without a harsh winter to check their numbers for a few years now. In the event that birds disperse away from the site there are very few marked individuals to give us a chance to learn about patterns of dispersal. There was also a couple of Buzzard overhead. Coal Tit, Blackbird, Goldfinch and Song Thrush were all present in the open areas.
On the way home we couldn't just pass Truss's Island, so dropped in to record a few numbers. We noted 15 birds in all, a mixture of darvics and metal rings including two that we had not seen there before.
Most unexpected was 4DHH, the bird that we'd ringed on Staines Moor just two days before. That is certainly the shortest amount of time for a local movement our group has documented to date.
4DHH had joined the flock at Truss's Island
There are now some 15 or so birds hatched in 2018 here, without colour marking. It's a shame that we are no longer allowed to mark birds here. There was an objection to the colour of the darvics.